Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
house! If you haven't encountered the
Tin House
literary mag before,
make a point of picking up the latest issue. There's also a newish book-
publishing division, with a roster of critically acclaimed indie successes
recently, including Alexis Smith's
Glaciers
and Christopher Beha's
What Happened to Sophie Wilder.
The publisher also holds an annual
weeklong writers workshop each summer at Portland's Reed College
campus, with readings and lectures that are open to the public.
At NW Vaughn St., turn left to find the rough-around-the-edges Mexic-
an restaurant and bar Acapulco's Gold. The place is famous for its awe-
some margaritas and not-that-great-but-really-cheap food. One side is a
lunch counter, the other side a dark and punked-out bar, and both are
crammed with kitsch and murals.
Walking up NW Vaughn St. toward 27th Ave., you'll be able to see the
Montgomery Park Building and its huge red sign (lit up sort of fetch-
ingly at night). Built in 1920, the structure was once part of Mont-
gomery Ward's catalog business, part of the company's efforts to ex-
pand its mail-order markets westward, into the Pacific Northwest,
Alaska, and Hawaii. At the time it was the largest commercial building
in Portland (even before it was expanded in 1936). It was built on the
site of the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition (see
Back St-
ory
). Montgomery Ward was here until the mid-1980s, when the com-
pany closed and sold the warehouse. Bought and renovated by the Naito
family (who were reportedly pleased that they only had to change the
W
and the
D
in the sign), it now houses office buildings and trade-show
space.
Turn left on NW 27th Ave. for a block, then right onto NW Thurman St.
At the corner is Fat Tire Farm, one of the earliest and best-liked bicycle
shops in town. You can rent a mountain bike here to go exploring in
Forest Park, as well as pick up maps and get all kinds of advice on bike
trails, commuting, repairs, and the bicycle community in Portland. Un-
like a few other shops in town, the staff here don't make you feel like an
idiot if you don't already happen to be an expert cyclist—it's a good
place to ask questions and find help without being intimidated.
Continue along NW Thurman St. through increasingly quiet blocks. At
NW 29th Ave. you'll cross the bridge over Macleay Park, with stairs al-
lowing you to drop down to the little park and picnic area where the
Lower Macleay Trail begins (and where you could also link up with
